Posts Tagged ‘Cape Cod Rail Trail’

We had a glimpse of spring last week, enough at least to remind us that we have so much on our doorstep here on Cape Cod, and there is no better time to take advantage of it. Whether that means dusting off your bike or finding your hiking boots and binoculars, there are wonderful adventures awaiting you.

Having left our bikes in France when we moved here, we have yet to take advantage of Cape Cod’s many bike trails. That’s no excuse though, as there are a number of bike rental locations strategically placed at or near many of the trails. The largest of these is the Cape Cod Rail Trail, 22 miles in length,which has rentals in Dennis, Brewster and Wellfleet. The Shining Sea Bikeway in Falmouth is a short trail with spectacular scenery and Corner Cycle will rent you a bike if you do not have your own.

There are many trails to explore on foot, indeed several are within walking distance of our inn, the closest are within the one hundred acre nature reserve, which abuts the inn’s 2 acres of beautiful landscaped gardens. They meander through a diverse woodland landscape down to Miller and Dennis Ponds – trail maps with commentary are available from your innkeepers or from a kiosk just past the historic Gorham Cobblers Shop. You can visit 200 year old Kelley’s Chapel, which nestles in a clearing at the start of the trails, and can be seen from our inn. Along the way, don’t forget to explore Summer street’s historic Woodside Cemetery, where you can trace the ancestry of Joshua Sears, one of New England’s wealthiest entrepreneurs ,who had what is now The Inn at Cape Cod, built as his private residence.

Travelling west along Route 6A about one mile, on Bone Hill Road, is the wonderful Mass. Audubon nature reserve Long Pasture. Here there are several grassy trails to follow, some with views of Cape Cod Bay across to Sandy Neck, a nature lover’s paradise.

It’s another bright sunny day again. I wonder if the Ospreys have returned to their nest at Grays Boardwalk - a little too soon I think – we will walk up and take a look anyway and maybe time our visit to take in the spectacular sunset.